3D printed models of human hearts and skeletal structures have already been proven to be
invaluable tools for surgeons wishing to
plan and rehearse delicate operations.

Now, an intrepid team of surgeons and
researchers is exploring how this technology can be applied to the brain.

A study being conducted as a partnership between the St. Louis University
Hospital’s Department of Neurological
Surgery and the St. Louis School of Engineering, is looking at how 3D printing
and other advanced manufacturing practices can be used to provide tools and
training aids that help improve patient
outcomes during neurosurgery.

The focus of the study is on using

3D printed models of a patient’s skull
and brain to more precisely plan out
the treatment of aneurysms, localized
dilations or ballooning of a blood vessel,
which are often fatal if left untreated.

Leading the study is Dr. Saleem Abdulrauf, a leading neurosurgeon who currently sits as the professor and chairman
of the St. Louis University Department
of Neurological Surgery and as Neuro-surgeon-in-Chief at the St. Louis University Hospital. While his initial research
will be confined to treating tumors
and aneurysms, he is hopeful that once
perfected, it can also be applied to other
procedures such as correcting vascular
malformations and the treatment of
epilepsy and Parkinson’s Disease.

Treating a brain aneurysm involvesusing a titanium clip to pinch off theblood supply to the distended portion ofthe blood vessel before it has a chanceto burst. One of the biggest challeng-es the surgeon faces during surgery isdetermining how to reach the aneurysmwhile minimizing any disturbance tosurrounding tissue. At present, med-ical imaging can help a surgeon planthe procedure but they still must stilldetermine, in real time, the best pathto use as they maneuver the clip andtheir surgical instruments towards theaneurysm.

Likewise, it’s often difficult to preciselyselect the right clip to do the job until thesurgery is underway. “Every aneurysm isdifferent in size, contour, and location,”says Dr. Abdulrauf. “We have hundreds ofclips sizes and types we can use and we’retypically making the decision on clip sizeduring surgery. If I can make that decisionbeforehand by practicing on a modelusing the same tools and clips I plan touse in the final operation, it really makes adifference during surgery.”The need for better pre-surgicalplanning and training prompted Dr. Ab-dulrauf to explore whether it would bepossible to build realistic models of theactual patient’s brain and skull. In addi-tion to enabling more accurate planning,he hoped to use the models to actuallyrehearse surgical procedures, and safelyexplore multiple strategies in advance ofthe actual operation.